Wick, plate type heat pipe and container

ABSTRACT

A plate type thin heat pipe comprises: a group of wire members comprising a plurality of first metal wire members placed in a same plane in parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out, and a plurality of second metal wire members placed in a same plane in parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out and placed so as to cross the plurality of first metal wire members; a container having a hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed comprising an upper plate member and a lower plate member placed face to face, each of which is made of thin copper plate, formed in such a manner that each of the upper plate member and the lower plate member contacts the group of wire members, and the group of wire members are sandwiched by the upper and lower plate members, and water as a working fluid received in the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/655,664, filed Sep. 6, 2000, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference, and which claims priority to JapaneseApplication Nos. 1999-252748, filed on Sep. 7, 1999, and 1999-252749,filed on Sep. 7, 1999. This application is related to U.S.Non-Provisional Application No. 10/______ , filed on even date herewith(having attorney docket number KAWAW6.0001DV1), the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a plate type heat pipe, wick andcontainer used for cooling electronic devices.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] As one of the means to effectively dissipate the heat generatedfrom semiconductor chips in the electronic devices which has beenincreasing, there is proposed a heat pipe. In particular, a plate typeheat pipe is perceived to be effective among various heat pipes becausethe heat receiving surface thereof to the surface of the chip can besecured and the function of heat diffusion is excellent.

[0006] The heat pipe comprises a hermetically sealed container which hasa hollow portion therein, and the pressure within the container isreduced to be vacuum. An appropriate amount of liquid is enclosed withinthe container as a working fluid. When heat is received in an outerportion of the container, the fluid existing in the correspondingportion within the container to the outer portion to which the heat isreceived evaporates and absorbs the latent heat of the evaporation. Thevapor flows to every corner of the container and fills the whole innerside of the container due to the difference in pressure. The flowedvapor condenses at the inner surface of the container except the heatreceiving portion to discharge the latent heat of the evaporation. Thecondensed fluid returns to the evaporating portion by means of a fluidcirculating mechanism which is arranged in the inner surface of thecontainer and called as wick comprising mesh, wire or the like. Thuscirculated fluid evaporates again in the heat receiving portion. Theabove-mentioned circulation of the fluid-vapor-fluid is repeated, and asa result, the heat is diffused and transferred to the whole of thecontainer.

[0007] The working fluid is poured into the container, and then gas inthe container is removed while the working fluid is remained therein andthe container is hermetically sealed in the final stage to complete thefabrication of the heat pipe. The heat pipe includes a portion to besealed in either case that the working fluid is vaporized to remove thegas from the interior of the container, or that the gas is removed by avacuum pump from the container. The portion to be sealed is kept openedtoward outside until the final stage of the fabrication of the heatpipe.

[0008] A heat pipe comprises in general a pipe-shaped heat pipe in whichone of the end portions becomes the portion to be sealed. After pouringthe working fluid into the container under vacuum condition, or afterpouring the working fluid and removing the gas, the above-mentioned endportion is in general caulked and then welded to be hermetically sealed.

[0009] However, when the heat pipe comprises a plate type heat pipe, itis impossible to apply the above-mentioned method to seal the container.FIG. 14 shows a conventional portion to be sealed in the plate type heatpipe. As shown in FIG. 14, a hexahedron body having six flat surfaces isformed by arranging and brazing an upper plate member 104, a lower platemember 105 and side plate members 106. In the above case, a small tube107 is inserted into the side plate member 106 to form the portion to besealed.

[0010]FIG. 11 shows a conventional plate type heat pipe. The plate typeheat pipe shown in FIG. 11 comprises an aluminum container 101 which isformed by extrusion. However, although the aluminum container shown inFIG. 11 can be formed by extrusion, it is difficult to form thecontainer shown in FIG. 11 which is made of copper by means ofextrusion. In addition, water is an excellent working fluid. However,there is a problem in which water cannot be used as working fluid in thecontainer made of aluminum. More specifically, aluminum reacts withwater to deteriorate the function of the heat pipe.

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, there is proposeda plate type heat pipe as shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. 13 which comprises acontainer having a hollow portion formed by an upper plate member 108and a lower plate member 109 in which a mesh 110 is inserted therein.Since the container shown in FIG. 12 is made of copper, water can beused as the working fluid. However, in the plate type heat pipe shown inFIG. 12, there is a problem in which it is difficult to insert the meshstably in the container, thus producing the heat pipes with differentproperty.

[0012] Furthermore, a conventional wick comprising mesh, braid or wirehas the following problem. More specifically, when the wire is used asshown in FIG. 6, since the acute angle portion designated by A in thecross-sectional view which is formed by the inner surface of thecontainer and the outer surface of the wire exists continuously anduniformly along the axis of the wire, it can be expected that theworking fluid effectively circulates. However, even if the wire isreceived within the container, it is very difficult to securely fix thewire on the inner surface of the container in view of the structure ofthe container so as to form the acute angle portion therebetween. Whenthe wire is not securely fixed on the inner surface of the container,for example, the side surface of the wire is partly contacted with theinner surface of the container, the wire does not effectively functionas the wick. Furthermore, in the plate type heat pipe, it is requiredthat the working fluid flows not along only one direction, but in alldirection across the plane, depending on the manner in which the heatpipe is positioned.

[0013] Furthermore, in case of the wick comprising the mesh or thebraid, since the mesh or the braid has a first element running in thefirst direction and a second element running in the second directionperpendicular to the first direction, contrary to the wire in which thecirculating direction of the working fluid is uniform along the axis ofthe wire, the above-mentioned second element disturbs the flow of theworking fluid along the axis of the first element.

[0014] In addition, there is the following problem in the plate typeheat pipe using the above-mentioned conventional wick.

[0015] More specifically, as described above, in the technical field ofcooling semiconductor chip or the like mounted in the electronic device,there is a tendency in which a whole electronic device is downsized andthe density of the integration of the chip becomes higher to cause thedensity of generated heat to remarkably increase. However, theconventional wick does not effectively function.

[0016] Furthermore, the conventional portion to be sealed has thefollowing problem. More specifically, as described above, in thetechnical field of cooling semiconductor chip or the like mounted in theelectronic device, there is a tendency in which a whole electronicdevice is downsized and the density of the integration of the chipbecomes higher. Accordingly, the plate type heat pipe has a largerestriction in the thickness of the plate type heat pipe. For example,when the total height of the heat pipe is 1 mm, the thickness of theplate member of the heat pipe is 0.2 mm, which is a general size of thiskind of the plate type heat pipe, the outer diameter of the small tube107 inserted in the side plate member as shown in FIG. 14 is 0.6 mmφ andthe inner diameter thereof is 0.4 mmφ. It is therefore impossible topour the working fluid into the container by the needle of the injectorcommercially used. Furthermore, since the small tube is inserted intothe side plate member of the container, the small tube protrudes out ofthe container. In addition, since the small tube is positioned in theside portion of the container, the gas remains in the corner of thecontainer when the gas is removed.

[0017] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide acontainer, a plate type thin heat pipe and a wick which may effectivelycool semiconductor chip or the like in the electronic device withremarkably increasing heat generating density and enable to easily sealthe portion to be sealed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] To solve the problems in the conventional art, the presentinventors have been studying hard. As a result, the following findingsare obtained. More specifically, it is important in a wick that the wickhas a capillary power. The capillary power can be obtained in general byplacing mesh along the inner wall surface of the tube. It is the mostideal structure of the wick in which the acute angle portion in thecross-sectional view, for example as described above with reference toFIG. 6, which is formed by the inner surface of the container and theouter surface of the wire exists continuously and uniformly along theaxis of the wire. Even in FIG. 6, the portion to effectively circulatethe working fluid is the portion designated by A. More specifically,since the mesh or the braid comprises an assembly of wires inmicroscopic analysis, the portion A may be formed when the wire is fixedon the inner wall surface of the heat pipe so as to effectivelycirculate the working fluid.

[0019] Accordingly, it has been found that when a plurality ofprotruding portions are arranged in one of the inner wall surfaces ofthe container to fix the mesh or the like to the other inner wallsurface of the container, the space for the vaporized working fluid maybe secured and the above-mentioned acute angle portion may be obtainedbetween the inner wall surface of the container and the outer surface ofwire member which has a circular cross section, since the mesh isclosely attached on the inner wall surface of the container, thuseffectively circulating the working fluid.

[0020] In addition it has been found that when a mesh comprising acombined wire members running in X direction and Y direction in alattice shape are closely attached on the inner wall surface of thecontainer, the above-mentioned acute angle portion may be obtainedbetween the inner wall surface of the container and the outer surface ofwire member which has a circular cross section, thus effectivelycirculating the working fluid.

[0021] Furthermore, it has been found that when a recessed portion isformed in a central portion of a thin copper plate in such manner thatthere is a difference in level between the outer peripheral portion andthe central portion, and a passage connecting to outside is formed in acorner portion as a portion to be sealed, the container may behermetically sealed only by caulking the corner portion, and inaddition, since the portion to be sealed is formed in the cornerportion, the gas is hardly remained within the container in case ofremoving the gas.

[0022] The present invention was made based on the above-mentionedfindings.

[0023] The first embodiment of the wick of the present inventioncomprises a flat plate member and a wire member wound around said flatplate member, said wick being received within a container having ahollow portion of a plate type thin heat pipe, inner pressure of whichcontainer is reduced and which is hermetically sealed.

[0024] The second embodiment of the wick of the present inventioncomprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member comprises a unit ofpunched metal plates formed by combining two punched metal plates inwhich at least one of said punched metal plates have a plurality ofprotruding portions, and said two punched metal plates are placed faceto face with a distance corresponding to a height of said protrudingportion.

[0025] The first embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises: (1) a plurality of metal wire membersplaced in a same plane in parallel with a prescribed distance spacedout; (2) a container having a hollow portion which is reduced in innerpressure and hermetically sealed comprising an upper plate member and alower plate member placed face to face, each of which is made of thincopper plate, formed in such a manner that each of said upper platemember and said lower plate member contacts said wire members, and saidwire members are sandwiched by said upper and lower plate members; and(3) water as a working fluid received in said container.

[0026] The second embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises: (1) a group of wire members comprising aplurality of first metal wire members placed in a same plane in parallelwith a prescribed distance spaced out, and a plurality of second metalwire members placed in a same plane in parallel with a prescribeddistance spaced out and placed so as to cross said plurality of firstmetal wire members; (2) a container having a hollow portion which isreduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed comprising an upperplate member and a lower plate member placed face to face, each of whichis made of thin copper plate, formed in such a manner that each of saidupper plate member and said lower plate member contacts said group ofwire members, and said group of wire members are sandwiched by saidupper and lower plate members; and (3) water as a working fluid receivedin said container.

[0027] The third embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portionwhich is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed, formed by anupper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and a lower platemember comprising a thin copper plate; (2) a wick comprising a flatplate member and a wire member wound around said flat plate member,received in said container; and (3) a working fluid received in saidcontainer.

[0028] The fourth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portionwhich is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed, formed by anupper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and a lower platemember comprising a thin copper plate; (2) a wick formed by beingarranged on an inner surface of one of said upper plate member and saidlower plate member, which is positioned within said container; (3) aworking fluid received in said container.

[0029] The fifth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portionwhich is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed, formed by anupper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and a lower platemember comprising a thin copper plate, a plurality of protrudingportions being formed on an inner surface of said upper plate member orsaid lower plate member; (2) a wick comprising a flat plate member and awire member wound around said flat plate member, received in saidcontainer in such a manner that said wick is pressed by said pluralityof protruding portions to an opposing inner surface of said container;(3) a working fluid received in said container.

[0030] The sixth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portionwhich is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed, formed by anupper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and a lower platemember comprising a thin copper plate; (2) a wick comprising a unit ofpunched metal plates formed by combining two punched metal plates inwhich at least one of said punched metal plates have a plurality ofprotruding portions, and said two punched metal plates are placed faceto face with a distance corresponding to a height of said protrudingportion and a wire member wound around said unit of punched metalplates; and (3) a working fluid received in said container.

[0031] The seventh embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein anotherwire member is further arranged in such manner that said another wiremember crosses said wire member arranged on both of outer surfaces ofsaid unit of punched metal plates of said wick.

[0032] The eighth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises: (1) a group of wire members comprising aplurality of first metal wire members placed in a same plane in parallelwith a prescribed distance spaced out, and a plurality of second metalwire members placed in a same plane in parallel with a prescribeddistance spaced out and placed so as to cross said plurality of firstmetal wire members; (2) a container having a hollow portion formed by anupper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a central portion ofwhich a recessed portion is formed to receive said group of wire membersand in a corner portion of which a passage connecting said recessedportion to outside is formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thincopper plate, outer peripheral portion of which are joined and saidpassage is caulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner pressurethereof is reduced, said group of wire members being received in saidhollow portion and each of inner surface of said upper plate member andsaid lower plate member contacting said group of wire members; (3) wateras a working fluid received in said container.

[0033] The ninth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portionformed by an upper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a centralportion of which a recessed portion is formed and in a corner portion ofwhich a passage connecting said recessed portion to outside is formed,and a flat lower pate member made of thin copper plate, outer peripheralportion of which are joined and said passage is caulked so as to behermetically sealed and inner pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wickcomprising a flat plate member and a wire member wound around said flatplate member, received in said container; (3) a working fluid receivedin said container.

[0034] The tenth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portionformed by an upper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a centralportion of which a recessed portion is formed and in a corner portion ofwhich a passage connecting said recessed portion to outside is formed,and a flat lower pate member made of thin copper plate, a plurality ofprotruding portions being formed on an inner surface of said upper platemember or said lower plate member, outer peripheral portions of whichare joined and said passage is caulked so as to be hermetically sealedand inner pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wick comprising a flatplate member and a wire member wound around said flat plate member,received in said container in such a manner that said wick is pressed bysaid plurality of protruding portions to an opposing inner surface ofsaid container; and (3) a working fluid received in said container.

[0035] The eleventh embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portionformed by an upper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a centralportion of which a recessed portion is formed and in a corner portion ofwhich a passage connecting said recessed portion to outside is formed,and a flat lower pate member made of thin copper plate, outer peripheralportions of which are joined and said passage is caulked so as to behermetically sealed and inner pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wickcomprising a unit of punched metal plates formed by combining twopunched metal plates in which at least one of said punched metal plateshave a plurality of protruding portions, and said two punched metalplates are placed face to face with a distance corresponding to a heightof said protruding portion and a wire member wound around said unit ofpunched metal plates; (3) a working fluid received in said container.

[0036] The twelfth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein anotherwire member is further arranged in such manner that said another wiremember crosses said wire member arranged on both of outer surfaces ofsaid unit of punched metal plates of said wick.

[0037] The thirteenth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein saidupper plate member is integrally formed as one piece member bypress-working.

[0038] The first embodiment of the container of the present inventioncomprises a container of a plate type heat pipe formed by combining aflat plate having a recessed portion in a central portion thereof and apassage connecting to outside in a corner portion of an outer peripheralportion thereof, and another flat plate, then brazing said outerperipheral portion of said flat plate to said another flat plate, andcaulking said passage to form a hermetically sealed hollow portion.

[0039] The second embodiment of the container of the present inventioncomprises a container, wherein said flat plate and said another flatplate have corresponding recessed portions in respective centralportions and corresponding passages in respective corner portions.

[0040] One embodiment of the method for manufacturing a plate type thinheat pipe of the present invention comprises steps of:

[0041] (1) preparing metal wire member placed in a same plane inparallel with a prescribed distance spaced out;

[0042] (2) sandwiching said wire member by a copper thin upper platemember and a copper thin lower plate member in such manner that solderis applied on portions of said upper plate member and lower plate memberwith which said wire member contacts to provisionally fabricate acontainer;

[0043] (3) applying a heat treatment to thus provisionally fabricatedcontainer at a prescribed temperature to form a hermetically sealedcontainer in which said wire member, said upper plate member and saidlower plate member are integrated as a one piece member;

[0044] (4) reducing an inner pressure of said container, and fillingwater as a working fluid.

[0045] Other embodiment of the wick of the present invention comprises awick, wherein said flat plate member of said wick comprises a circularshaped or a polygonal shaped plate with notches or columns arranged inthe end portion thereof, said wire member being wound with the use ofsaid notches or columns as turn-around points and arranged on onesurface of said flat plate member.

[0046] Other embodiment of the wick of the present invention comprises awick, wherein said flat plate member of said wick comprises a punchedmetal having a plurality of punched holes.

[0047] Other embodiment of the wick of the present invention comprises awick, wherein another wire member is further arranged in such mannerthat said another wire member crosses said wire member arranged on bothof outer surfaces of said unit of punched metal plates of said wick.

[0048] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein mesh is furtherprovided between said wire member and said upper plate member or saidlower plate member, between said wire member and said another wiremember, and between said group of wire members and said upper platemember or said lower plate member.

[0049] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein said flat platemember of said wick comprises a circular shaped or a polygonal shapedplate with notches or columns arranged in the end portion thereof, saidwire member being wound with the use of said notches or columns asturn-around points and arranged on one surface of said flat platemember.

[0050] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member of said wickcomprises a circular shaped or a polygonal shaped plate, said wiremember being wound on both surfaces of said plate member.

[0051] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein said flat platemember of said wick comprises a punched metal having a plurality ofpunched holes.

[0052] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein another wiremember is further arranged in such manner that said another wire membercrosses said wire member arranged on both of outer surfaces of said unitof punched metal plates of said wick.

[0053] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein at least one ofsaid upper plate member and said lower plate member have a recessedportion in a central portion, and said upper plate member and said lowerplate member are fitted and outer peripheral portions are joined to formsaid container including said hollow portion.

[0054] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein said unit ofpunched metal plates comprises a circular shaped or a polygonal shapedplate, and said wire member is arranged on both of outer surfaces ofsaid unit of punched metal plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055]FIG. 1 is a view to show elements of one of the embodiment of theplate type heat pipe of the present invention;

[0056]FIG. 2 is a schematic view to show other arrangement of the wiremember shown in FIG. 1;

[0057]FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment ofthe wick of the present invention;

[0058]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of other embodiment of the wick of thepresent invention;

[0059]FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodimentof the plate type heat pipe of the invention;

[0060]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a contact portion betweenone plate member and wire member;

[0061]FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing otherembodiment of the plate type heat pipe of the invention;

[0062]FIG. 8 is a schematic view of other embodiment of the wick of thepresent invention;

[0063]FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a portion to besealed in the container of the invention;

[0064]FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a lower plate member including aportion to be sealed shown in FIG. 9;

[0065]FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventionalaluminum container;

[0066]FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventionalheat pipe;

[0067]FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventionalheat pipe; and

[0068]FIG. 14 is a view to show elements of a conventional plate typeheat pipe including a portion to be sealed.

[0069]FIG. 15 illustrates a wick comprising a flat plate member and awire member wound around the flat plate member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0070] The present invention is described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

[0071] One embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention comprises (1) a plurality of metal wire members placed in asame plane in parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out, (2) acontainer having a hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure andhermetically sealed comprising an upper plate member and a lower platemember placed face to face, each of which is made of thin copper plate,formed in such a manner that each of said upper plate member and saidlower plate member contacts said wire members, and said wire members aresandwiched by said upper and lower plate members, and (3) water as aworking fluid received in said container.

[0072] Furthermore, other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention comprises (1) a group of wire members comprising aplurality of first metal wire members placed in a same plane in parallelwith a prescribed distance spaced out, and a plurality of second metalwire members placed in a same plane in parallel with a prescribeddistance spaced out and placed so as to cross said plurality of firstmetal wire members, (2) a container having a hollow portion which isreduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed comprising an upperplate member and a lower plate member placed face to face, each of whichis made of thin copper plate, formed in such a manner that each of saidupper plate member and said lower plate member contacts said group ofwire members, and said group of wire members are sandwiched by saidupper and lower plate members, and (3) water as a working fluid receivedin said container.

[0073] In addition, in the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention, mesh may be further provided between said wire member andsaid upper plate member or said lower plate member, between said wiremember and said another wire member, and between said group of wiremembers and said upper plate member or said lower plate member.

[0074] The above-mentioned embodiments of the plate type thin heat pipeof the present invention are described in more detail. As shown in FIG.1, a plurality of wire members 2 are arranged in parallel each other,for example. Solder is applied in advance on the portions of the thinflat plates with which the wire members contact, and the wire membersarranged in parallel are sandwiched by the two copper thin flat plates1, 3. Thus prepared wire members and flat plates are introduced into afurnace to obtain the container as substantially shown in FIG. 11without limiting the material of the container to aluminum. Since thewire member positioned in the outer most end forms the outer wall of thecontainer, a square wire member may be used in stead of a round wiremember.

[0075] According to the above-mentioned container of the presentinvention, contrary to the conventional container shown in FIG. 11 inwhich each of partition members vertically extend from the lower memberto form a corner of right angles, the outer surface of the round wiremember 2 and the flat plate 2, 3 forms acute angle, thus the round wiremember per se functions as a wick to reduce the numbers of the partswhich is favorable.

[0076] Furthermore, in case of the conventional container formed byextrusion shown in FIG. 11, the heat transfer along the X direction(i.e., the direction across the partition member of the container) isinferior to the heat transfer along the Y direction (i.e., the directionalong the partition member). On the other hand, in the above-mentionedcontainer of the present invention, for example as shown in FIG. 2(b),since the wire members 2 are intermittently arranged, the heat transferproperty in the X direction can be improved together with that in the Ydirection. In this case, when the mesh 8 is interposed between one ofthe plate member 7 and the wire member 9, as shown in FIG. 4, a requiredstrength can be provided with the container.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 3, the group of the wire members 5 arranged inparallel each other are placed in such manner as crossing the othergroup of the wire members 5 arranged in parallel each other, and thenthe two groups of the wire members are sandwiched by the plate member 4,6 to form the container of the plate type thin heat pipe. In theabove-mentioned container, the space along the X direction is connectedto the space along the Y direction without intermittently placing thewire members.

[0078] Furthermore, as described above, in the structure in which meshis further interposed between the group of wire members 9 and the platemember 7, the wire member 9 functions as a part of the wick, and inaddition, functions to fix the mesh 8 as the main wick to one surface ofthe plate member 7 and secure the passage for the vaporized fluid

[0079] In addition, other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention may comprises: (1) a container having a hollowportion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed,formed by an upper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and alower plate member comprising a thin copper plate, a plurality ofprotruding portions being formed on an inner surface of said upper platemember or said lower plate member; (2) a wick comprising a flat platemember and a wire member wound around said flat plate member, receivedin said container in such a manner that said wick is pressed by saidplurality of protruding portions to an opposing inner surface of saidcontainer; and (3) a working fluid received in said container.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of protruding portions 12 areprovided with one of the flat plate 11 of two flat plates, and two flatplates are placed face to face to form the container. In this case, whenone of the flat plate is formed so as to have a recessed portion in thecentral portion thereof, the recessed portion forms the inner space ofthe container. In particular, in case of the very thin type of containerrequired, the recessed portion can be easily formed by press-working.The above-mentioned protruding portions 12 can be formed together withthe recessed portion. The protruding portions 12 are provided on all thesurface of the recessed portion 11 in an arrangement of equilateraltriangle, for example. The shape of the protruding portion may becylindrical or square pole. The height of the protruding portion isprepared so as to be equal to the difference between the thickness ofthe layered meshes received in the container and the distance from theinner surface of one of the plate member to the inner surface of theother plate member of the container.

[0081] Two flat plates 11, 14 with the recessed portion and theprotruding portions respectively formed according to the above areplaced face to face, then, the layered meshes 13 are interposedtherebetween, and then the outer peripheral portions are brazed so thatthe container is hermetically sealed. At the same time, a small tube isinterposed in a part of the outer peripheral portions. A working fluidis injected into the container, and the air is removed through the smalltube. Then, the small tube is caulked, thus the plate type thin heatpipe is prepared.

[0082] The protruding portion 12 functions to press the meshes againstthe inner surface of the flat plate, and at the same time, according tothe protruding portions, the passage space for flowing the vaporizedfluid therethrough is secured. Furthermore, the portion of the wick mosteffectively functioning to circulate the working fluid is the portion ofthe acute angle formed by the inner wall of the container and the outersurface of the circular wire member as shown above in the cross-section.According to the plate type heat pipe of the present invention, sincethe mesh is surely and closely pressed to the inner wall of thecontainer, the working fluid is effectively circulated.

[0083] The structure of the wick is not limited to the above-mentionedmesh. The structure of the wick may comprises a group of wire members ora group of braid. With those wick, the same effect as described abovecan be obtained.

[0084] Furthermore, in addition to the group of protruding portionsdescribed above, a second group of protruding portions are preferablyprovided, the height of which is equal to the distance between the innersurface of one of the flat plate and the inner surface of the other flatplate of the container. The second group of protruding portions thusformed function to reinforce the strength of the container. The densityof the second group of the protruding portions may be lower than that ofthe first group of the protruding portions. However, when the wickstructure comprises a mesh or layered meshes, the punched holescorresponding to the protruding portions in shape and arrangement arepreferably prepared in advance in the mesh or the layered meshes. Inthis case, when the wick structure is sandwiched by the two flat plates,the tip ends of the second group of protruding portions contact with theinner surface of the opposing flat plate. When the above-mentioned tipends are brazed in the same manner as the outer peripheral portions, thewalls of the container can be prevented from being deformed even whenthe inner pressure of the heat pipe becomes higher than the pressure ofthe open air.

[0085] Then, embodiments of the wick of the present invention isdescribed. One embodiment of the wick of the present invention comprisesa flat plate member and a wire member wound around said flat platemember, as illustrated in FIG. 15, for example. The wick may be receivedwithin a container having a hollow portion of a plate type thin heatpipe, inner pressure of which container is reduced and which ishermetically sealed.

[0086] Furthermore, other embodiment of the wick of the presentinvention comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member comprises aunit of punched metal plates formed by combining two punched metalplates in which at least one of said punched metal plates have aplurality of protruding portions, and said two punched metal plates areplaced face to face with a distance corresponding to a height of saidprotruding portion.

[0087] In addition, other embodiment of the wick of the presentinvention comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member of said wickcomprises a circular shaped or a polygonal shaped plate with notches orcolumns arranged in the end portion thereof, said wire member beingwound with the use of said notches or columns as turn-around points andarranged on one surface of said flat plate member.

[0088] In addition, other embodiment of the wick of the presentinvention comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member of said wickcomprises a punched metal having a plurality of punched holes.

[0089] In addition, other embodiment of the wick of the presentinvention comprises a wick, wherein another wire member is furtherarranged in such manner that said another wire member crosses said wiremember arranged on both of outer surfaces of said unit of punched metalplates of said wick.

[0090] Then, other embodiments of the plate type thin heat pipe of thepresent invention are described.

[0091] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portion which isreduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed, formed by an upperplate member comprising a thin copper plate and a lower plate membercomprising a thin copper plate; (2) a wick comprising a flat platemember and a wire member wound around said flat plate member, receivedin said container; and (3) a working fluid received in said container.

[0092] In addition, other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portionwhich is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed, formed by anupper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and a lower platemember comprising a thin copper plate; (2) a wick formed by beingarranged on an inner surface of one of said upper plate member and saidlower plate member, which is positioned within said container; (3) aworking fluid received in said container.

[0093] In addition, other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portionwhich is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed, formed by anupper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and a lower platemember comprising a thin copper plate; (2) a wick comprising a unit ofpunched metal plates formed by combining two punched metal plates inwhich at least one of said punched metal plates have a plurality ofprotruding portions, and said two punched metal plates are placed faceto face with a distance corresponding to a height of said protrudingportion and a wire member wound around said unit of punched metalplates; and (3) a working fluid received in said container.

[0094] Furthermore, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein anotherwire member is further arranged in such manner that said another wiremember crosses said wire member arranged on both of outer surfaces ofsaid unit of punched metal plates of said wick.

[0095] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein said flatplate member of said wick comprises a circular shaped or a polygonalshaped plate with notches or columns arranged in the end portionthereof, said wire member being wound with the use of said notches orcolumns as turnaround points and arranged on one surface of said flatplate member.

[0096] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention may comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member of saidwick comprises a circular shaped or a polygonal shaped plate, said wiremember being wound on both surfaces of said plate member.

[0097] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein said flatplate member of said wick comprises a punched metal having a pluralityof punched holes.

[0098] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein anotherwire member is further arranged in such manner that said another wiremember crosses said wire member arranged on one or both of outersurfaces of said unit of punched metal plates of said wick.

[0099] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein at leastone of said upper plate member and said lower plate member have arecessed portion in a central portion, and said upper plate member andsaid lower plate member are fitted and outer peripheral portions arejoined to form said container including said hollow portion.

[0100] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein said unitof punched metal plates comprises a circular shaped or a polygonalshaped plate, and said wire member is arranged on both of outer surfacesof said unit of punched metal plates.

[0101] Furthermore, the method for manufacturing a plate type thin heatpipe of the present invention comprises steps of:

[0102] (1) preparing metal wire member placed in a same plane inparallel with a prescribed distance spaced out;

[0103] (2) sandwiching said wire member by a copper thin upper platemember and a copper thin lower plate member in such manner that solderis applied on portions of said upper plate member and lower plate memberwith which said wire member contacts to provisionally fabricate acontainer;

[0104] (3) applying a heat treatment to thus provisionally fabricatedcontainer at a prescribed temperature to form a hermetically sealedcontainer in which said wire member, said upper plate member and saidlower plate member are integrated as a one piece member;

[0105] (4) reducing an inner pressure of said container, and fillingwater as a working fluid.

[0106] Furthermore, further other embodiment of the plate type thin heatpipe of the present invention is described in detail. More specifically,when copper material is selected as the material for the container andthe wick which can use water as a working fluid, it is impossible topractically place a copper wire having a diameter up to 0.5 mmφ alongthe inner surface of the container. Accordingly, in the presentinvention, a copper thin plate is used as a supporting material to placethe above-mentioned wire along the inner surface of the container, andthe copper thin plate with the wire wound is received as a wick withinthe container.

[0107] For example, the wire is wound around a square copper thin platein such manner that the wire is guided along the front surface of thecopper thin plate from one end to the other end which faces each other,and then along the back surface of the copper thin plate, and then alongthe front surface again, thus the wire is densely wound. In this case,the end of the wire is entangled to a notch or the like formed in thecorner of the thin plate and fixed. The plate-shaped wick having themost effective mechanism for circulating the working fluid along auni-direction can be thus obtained. Thus prepared wick may be receivedin the container in the same manner as the mesh, and in addition, asshown in FIG. 5, the above-mentioned wick may be pressed by the group ofthe protruding portions 12 formed on one of the inner surface of thecontainer to the other inner surface of the container.

[0108] The wick can be received in the container having six sides formedby combining the upper plate member, the lower plate member and the sideplate members. In case of a very thin heat pipe, the wick can bereceived in the container formed by combining one flat plate and theother plate with a recessed portion formed in the central portionthereof.

[0109] However, in that case, since the vaporized fluid is not suppliedto the wires wound on one of the sides of the thin copper plate, i.e.,the vaporized fluid is supplied to the wires wound on the other side ofthe thin copper plate, there occurs no condensation of the working fluidin the above-mentioned side of the thin copper plate, thus causing toprovide dead space. It is required in the plate type heat pipe to makethe container thinner, thus the dead space is not preferable in theplate type heat pipe. It is possible to wind wire on one side of thethin copper plate with notches provided at appropriate interval (pitch)in the short ends of the plate, more specifically, the wire is placedalong the side surface of the copper plate, and turned around at thenotches to return back, thus repeating in such manner as described aboveto be wound on the single side of the copper plate. In this case, thedead space can be removed.

[0110] In case that the wire is wound on one surface of the thin plate,the thin plate with the wire wound can be used as one of the platemember of the container, thus reducing the numbers of the component ofthe heat pipe and being preferable.

[0111] Although, the thin plate with the wire wound comprises anordinary flat plate, a punched metal plate having a plurality of punchedholes can be used in stead of the above-mentioned flat plate. In thiscase, even if the wire is wound on both sides of the punched metalplate, there is no such dead space as in the flat plate. Morespecifically, the vaporized working fluid condenses on both surfaces ofthe punched metal plate so that both surfaces of the punched metal platewith the wire wound can function as a circulating passage for theworking fluid.

[0112] In addition, in case that the wire is wound along one directionon the surface of thin plate, the function of circulating working fluidis effective in one direction, thus the function of the plate type heatpipe is limited. Accordingly, there is proposed a method for circulatingthe working fluid in two directions (two dimensions) of a longitudinaldirection and a lateral direction in which the first wire is woundbetween short ends of the punched metal plate, and then the second wireis wound between long ends of the punched metal plate in such mannerthat the first wire and the second wire cross on the surface of thepunched metal plate. Although the above-mentioned structure resembles amesh at first glance, the practical effect between the above-mentionedstructure and a mesh are totally different.

[0113] More specifically, in case of the mesh, the first wire extendsalong the inner surface of the container and the second wire extends tocross the first wire in such manner that the second wire extendsalternatively to the upper side of the first wire and the lower side ofthe first wire, while the first wire extends alternatively to the upperside of the second wire and the lower side of the second wire.Therefore, the wire does not constantly contact with the inner surfaceof the container. On the other hand, in the present invention, the wireconstantly contact with the inner surface of the container and theportion A shown in FIG. 6 formed between the inner surface of thecontainer and the outer surface of the wire is maintained along thewhole length of the wire. In other words, in the present invention, thewick has a structure in which there are two straight passages comprisingan upper straight passage and a lower straight passage for the workingfluid formed by the wires. The above-mentioned structure is shown inFIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the protruding portions 17 are formed on theinner surface of the upper flat plate 15 having a recessed portion, andthe wick comprising the punched metal plate 18 with the X directionalwire 19 and the Y directional wire 20 wound is received in the recessedportion and pressed by the protruding portions against the inner surfaceof the other flat plate 16.

[0114] However, although the above-mentioned type of the wick securesthe passage for vaporized fluid in upper side of the container formed bythe protruding portions, the vaporized working fluid only condensesthere, since there is no circulating structure. The wick structure usingmesh as shown in FIG. 5 has the same limitation as described above.

[0115] To improve the above-mentioned structure of the wick, there isproposed another structure of the wick, in which a unit of punched metalplates formed by two punched metal plates with a prescribed vaporizedpassage provided therebetween is prepared, and then, the wire is woundon the outer surface of the unit of punched metal plates. According tothe above-mentioned structure, the space within the container can beeffectively used, and the same function can be provided with bothsurfaces of the punched metal plates.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 8, the protruding portions (not shown) areformed on one of the punched metal plates, and then a unit of punchedmetal plates are prepared by combining two punched metal plates with aspace provided therebetween, and then, the wire 22 is wound in Xdirection on the respective outer surface of the punched metal plates,and the wire 24 is wound in Y direction on the respective outer surfaceof the punched metal plates with the wire 22 wound. The thus preparedwick is then received within the container formed by the upper flatplate member 21 and the lower flat plate member 25. In this case, whenthe container is designed so as to have the inner height, i.e., thedistance between the inner surface of the upper plate member and theinner surface of the lower plate member, which is equal to a total ofthe thickness of the both plate members, the difference between thepunched metal plates (i.e., the height of the protruding portion), and 4times of outer diameter of the wire, the group of outer wires 24 (i.e.,Y direction) closely contact with the respective inner surfaces 21, 25of the container. The group of inner wires 22 (i.e., X direction)closely contact with the respective punched metal plates 23. The spacebetween the two punched metal plates function as the passage forvaporized fluid, and the vaporized working fluid condenses on the groupof wires. Thus, the plate type heat pipe of the present invention has awick structure in which the straight passages for circulation in both ofX direction and Y direction are arranged on both of the upper and lowerinner surfaces of the heat pipe so as to secure the passage forvaporized working fluid.

[0117] The first embodiment of the container of the present inventioncomprises a container of a plate type heat pipe formed by combining aflat plate having a recessed portion in a central portion thereof and apassage connecting to outside in a the outer of an outer peripheralportion thereof, and another flat plate, then brazing the outerperipheral portion of the flat plate to the another flat plate, andcaulking the passage to form a hermetically sealed hollow portion.

[0118]FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a portion to besealed in the container of the invention. FIG. 10 is a plan view showinga lower plate member including a portion to be sealed shown in FIG. 9.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 9, a square copper plate is press-worked to forma central portion 32 recessed from the square outer peripheral portion31. The corner portion 33 which is a part of the outer peripheralportion is positioned on the same plane to the recessed central portion.

[0120] Solder is applied on the outer peripheral portion 31, and thenthe other flat copper plate and the copper plate with the recessedportion formed are combined and adhered to form the container having theopening portion in the corner portion 33.

[0121] Working fluid is injected from the corner portion 33, and thenthe container is heated to remove gas within the container. The cornerportion 33 is obliquely caulked, and then welded to prepare the platetype heat pipe of the present invention.

[0122] The tip portion of the corner portion 33 may be received in thevacuum system including a soft packing on the opening portion thereof,and introducing the vapor into the container, and then removing gasunder reduced pressure to form the plate type heat pipe.

[0123] According to the present invention, the plate type heat pipehaving, for example, a thickness of the container: 1 mm, a thickness ofthe plate member: 0.2 mm, and inner height of the container (thedistance between the upper inner surface of the plate member and thelower inner surface of the plate member): 0.6 mm can be fully prepared.

[0124] In addition, the protruding portions having the same height asthe inner height of the container are formed on the inner surface of oneof the plate member in a prescribed interval, and solder is applied onthe tip portion of the protruding portions, the plate type heat pipe canbe prepared. According to the above, the strength of the thin heat pipeis reinforced. For example, when the protruding portions are arranged ina regular square form with 10 mm pitch, the heat pipe can be preventedfrom being deformed, even under the inner pressure of 1 kg/cm².

[0125] The press-worked copper is the most effective material for thecontainer shown in FIG. 9. Aluminum is excellent in workability,however, water cannot be used with aluminum container. In the presentinvention, copper can be effectively used for the material of thecontainer, thus remarkably effective in property.

[0126] Furthermore, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention comprises: (1) a group of wire members comprising a pluralityof first metal wire members placed in a same plane in parallel with aprescribed distance spaced out, and a plurality of second metal wiremembers placed in a same plane in parallel with a prescribed distancespaced out and placed so as to cross said plurality of first metal wiremembers; (2) a container having a hollow portion formed by an upperplate member made of thin copper plate, in a central portion of which arecessed portion is formed to receive said group of wire members and ina corner portion of which a passage connecting said recessed portion tooutside is formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thin copperplate, outer peripheral portion of which are joined and said passage iscaulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner pressure thereof isreduced, said group of wire members being received in said hollowportion and each of inner surface of said upper plate member and saidlower plate member contacting said group of wire members; (3) water as aworking fluid received in said container.

[0127] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention may comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portion formedby an upper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a central portionof which a recessed portion is formed and in a corner portion of which apassage connecting said recessed portion to outside is formed, and aflat lower pate member made of thin copper plate, outer peripheralportion of which are joined and said passage is caulked so as to behermetically sealed and inner pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wickcomprising a flat plate member and a wire member wound around said flatplate member, received in said container; (3) a working fluid receivedin said container.

[0128] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention may comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portion formedby an upper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a central portionof which a recessed portion is formed and in a corner portion of which apassage connecting said recessed portion to outside is formed, and aflat lower pate member made of thin copper plate, a plurality ofprotruding portions being formed on an inner surface of said upper platemember or said lower plate member, outer peripheral portions of whichare joined and said passage is caulked so as to be hermetically sealedand inner pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wick comprising a flatplate member and a wire member wound around said flat plate member,received in said container in such a manner that said wick is pressed bysaid plurality of protruding portions to an opposing inner surface ofsaid container; and (3) a working fluid received in said container.

[0129] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention may comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portion formedby an upper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a central portionof which a recessed portion is formed and in a corner portion of which apassage connecting said recessed portion to outside is formed, and aflat lower pate member made of thin copper plate, outer peripheralportions of which are joined and said passage is caulked so as to behermetically sealed and inner pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wickcomprising a unit of punched metal plates formed by combining twopunched metal plates in which at least one of said punched metal plateshave a plurality of protruding portions, and said two punched metalplates are placed face to face with a distance corresponding to a heightof said protruding portion and a wire member wound around said unit ofpunched metal plates; (3) a working fluid received in said container.

[0130] In the above-mentioned embodiment of the plate type thin heatpipe of the present invention, the passage formed in the corner can besealed only by caulking the corner portion. In addition, since anyprotruding portion is not formed near the portion to be sealed and theportion to be sealed is formed in the corner portion, gas is hardlyremained when removing gas in the container.

[0131] In addition, in the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention, another wire member is further arranged in such manner thatthe another wire member crosses the wire member arranged on both ofouter surfaces of the unit of punched metal plates of the wick.

[0132] In addition, in the plate type thin heat pipe of the presentinvention, the above-mentioned upper plate member may be integrallyformed as a one piece member by press-working.

[0133] As described above, according to the container of the presentinvention, gas can be easily removed by a boiling method. In particular,gas is hardly remained. In addition, since the corner portion is onlycaulked, the container is easily manufactured at low cost.

EXAMPLE Example 1

[0134] According to the present invention, a container of a plate typeheat pipe of the present invention is formed by using two copper platehaving a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 20 mm and length 50 mm, tenpieces of copper wire of a diameter of 0.2 mmφ and length of 50 mm, and4 sheets of #200 screen meshes, as follows:

[0135] 10 pieces of the copper wires are placed in parallel each otherwith 2 mm pitch on one of the copper plate, and then 4 sheets of themeshes are interposed between the disposed wires and the other copperplate. Solder is applied in advance to the side portions of the copperwire to contact with the copper plate and the mesh, and each end of themeshes. A square bar is placed on each end of the copper plate so as toseal the container.

[0136] Then, thus formed copper plates with the copper wire and meshesplaced and pinched by a fixing fig are introduced into a furnace as theyare.

[0137] In addition, a small copper tube is interposed in advance so asto extrude from the inside of the container to outside, and then the airwithin the container is removed and a working fluid is injected into thecontainer by the use of the tube. Thus, a plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention having a width of 20 mm, a length of 50 mm, and athickness of 1 mm is formed. When a chip generating heat was cooled bythus formed plate type thin heat pipe of the present invention, the chipwas effectively cooled.

Example 2

[0138] The same material as in Example 1 except the following materialare used and a plate type heat pipe of the present invention is formedin the same manner as in Example 1 except the following. Morespecifically, 4 sheets of the meshes are divided into respective 2sheets. The group of copper wires placed in parallel are interposedbetween a set of 2 sheets of meshes, and then, thus formed copper wiresand meshes are interposed by two copper plates to form a plate type thinheat pipe of the present invention having a width of 20 mm, a length of50 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm. When a chip generating heat was cooledby thus formed plate type thin heat pipe of the present invention, thechip was effectively cooled.

Example 3

[0139] According to the present invention, the plate type heat pipe ofthe present invention schematically shown in FIG. 3 is formed by usingtwo copper plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 40 mm and alength 60 mm, 36 pieces of copper wire of a diameter of 0.3 mmφ andlength of 60 mm, and 56 pieces of copper wire of a diameter of 0.3 mmφand length of 40 mm, as follows:

[0140] Copper wires 5 are placed in parallel each other with 1 mm pitchon one of the copper plate 4. Solder is applied in advance to the sideportions of the copper wire to contact with the copper plate. Copperwires are bundled before being cut to be the above mentioned size, andapplied tensile force, and then pressed and adhered to the end portionsof the copper placed below, thus forming a unit. In the same manner,another unit in which copper wires 5 are placed on the copper plate 5 isformed.

[0141] The above-mentioned two units are placed face to face in suchmanner that axis directions of the copper wires are perpendicular toeach other, and a square bar is placed on each end of the copper plate,and then the container is brazed in the same manner as in Example tointegrally form as a one piece member.

[0142] In addition, a small copper tube is interposed in advance so asto extrude from the inside of the container to outside, and then the airwithin the container is removed and a working fluid is injected into thecontainer by the use of the tube. Thus, a plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention having a width of 40 mm, a length of 60 mm, and athickness of 1 mm is formed. When a chip generating heat was cooled bythus formed plate type thin heat pipe of the present invention, the chipwas effectively cooled.

Example 4

[0143] According to the present invention, a recessed portion having adepth of 0.8 mm is formed in the center portion of a square copper platehaving a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm and a length 50 mm insuch manner that a peripheral portion having a width of 2 mm in thecopper plate is remained intact, i.e., being flat. Then, on one of thecorners of the square copper plate, a passage portion to be connectedoutside is formed. The passage has a width of 1 mm and the same heightof the recessed portion (i.e., 0.8 mm). An angle formed by the passageand the end of the copper plate is 45 degrees. The above-mentioned platewas formed by press-working.

[0144] In addition, cylindrical protruding portions having a height of0.4 mm and a diameter of 1 mmφ are formed in a square pattern with 3 mmpitch on other copper plate having the same size as the copper platewith the protruding portions formed. The above-mentioned plate wasformed by press-working.

[0145] Four sheets of meshes (#120) having a width of 20 mm and a lengthof 45 mm are prepared as a wick, and placed in the recessed portion inthe above-mentioned copper plate. Solder is applied to the outerperipheral portion having width of 2 mm of the above-mentioned copperplate, and then the other copper plate with the protruding portionsformed are placed face to face on the above-mentioned copper plate. Thusformed container is fix by a clip, and is introduced into a furnace tointegrally form a one piece member.

[0146] Water is injected by a injector through the opening portion ofthe passage portion having a height of 0.8 mm and width of 1 mm, andthen the container is heated so as for the water to be boiled. Thus, aplate type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a width of 25mm, a length of 50 mm, and a thickness of 1.2 mm is formed. When a chipgenerating heat was cooled by thus formed plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention, the chip was effectively cooled.

Example 5

[0147] According to the present invention, a recessed portion having adepth of 1 mm is formed in the center portion of a square copper platehaving a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 50 mm and a length 100 mm insuch manner that a peripheral portion having a width of 2 mm in thecopper plate is remained intact, i.e., being flat. Then, cylindricalprotruding portions having a height of 1 mm and a diameter of 3 mmφ areformed in a square pattern with 10 mm pitch on the center portion of thecopper plate. The above-mentioned plate was formed by press-working.

[0148] In addition, cylindrical protruding portions having a height of0.5 mm and a diameter of 3 mmφ are formed in a square pattern with 5 mmpitch on other copper plate having the same size as the copper plate.The above-mentioned plate was formed by press-working.

[0149] Six sheets of meshes (#200) having a width of 45 mm and a lengthof 95 mm are prepared as a wick, and layered. The corresponding holes tothe above-mentioned cylindrical protruding portions, having a diameterof 3 mmφ are formed in a square pattern with 10 mm pitch on the meshes.Thus formed meshes are placed in the recessed portion in such mannerthat the cylindrical protruding portions are inserted in thecorresponding holes.

[0150] Solder is applied to the outer peripheral portion having width of2 mm of the above-mentioned copper plate and the tip ends of thecylindrical protruding portions, and then the other copper plate areplaced face to face on the above-mentioned copper plate. Thus formedcontainer is fix by a clip, and is introduced into a furnace tointegrally form a one piece member.

[0151] Water is injected by a injector through an opening portion of apassage portion having a height of 1 mm and width of 1 mm, and then thecontainer is heated so as for the water to be boiled. Thus, a plate typethin heat pipe of the present invention having a width of 50 mm, alength of 100 mm, and a thickness of 1.4 mm is formed. When a chipgenerating heat was cooled by thus formed plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention, the chip was effectively cooled.

Example 6

[0152] According to the present invention, on the square portion of 21mm×66 mm in the square copper plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm, awidth of 25 mm and a length of 70 mm except a peripheral portion havinga width of 2 mm, dimples having a height of 0.8 mm and a diameter of 0.2mmφ are arranged along the two short ends having a length of 21 mm ofthe above-mentioned square portion of the copper plate with 0.5 mmpitch. The total of the dimples on the short end was 40. The copper wirehaving a diameter of 0.2 mmφ are wound on one side of the copper plateusing the dimples as a turn-around point. Both ends of the copper wireare fixed to the far end dimples, respectively.

[0153] In addition, a recessed portion having a depth of 0.6 mm isformed in the center portion of a square copper plate having a thicknessof 0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm and a length 70 mm in such manner that aperipheral portion having a width of 2 mm in the copper plate isremained intact, i.e., being flat. Then, on one of the corners of thesquare copper plate, a passage portion to be connected outside isformed. The passage has a width of 1 mm and the same height of therecessed portion (i.e., 0.6 mm). An angle formed by the passage and theend of the copper plate is 45 degrees. The above-mentioned plate wasformed by press-working.

[0154] Solder is applied to the outer peripheral portion having width of2 mm of the above-mentioned copper plate, and then the other copperplate with the dimples formed are placed face to face on theabove-mentioned copper plate. Thus formed container is fix by a clip,and is introduced into a furnace to integrally form a one piece member.

[0155] Water is injected by a injector through the opening portion ofthe passage portion having a height of 0.6 mm and width of 1 mm, andthen the container is heated so as for the water to be boiled. Thus, aplate type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a width of 25mm, a length of 70 mm, and a thickness of 1.0 mm is formed. When a chipgenerating heat was cooled by thus formed plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention, the chip was effectively cooled.

Example 7

[0156] Copper wire having a diameter of 0.2 mmφ is wound on a punchedcopper plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 20 mm and a lengthof 65 mm, the punched holes of which are formed in a square pattern with2 mm pitch, each being a size of 1 mmφ. The wire is wound on both sidesof the punched copper plate in such manner that it is wound 38 timesbetween two short ends having length of 20 mm respectively with 0.5 mmpitch from the front side surface to the back side surface, and thefront side surface again, thus repeated. Both ends of the copper wireare fixed to the far end punched holes, respectively.

[0157] In addition, a recessed portion having a depth of 1.0 mm isformed in the center portion of a square copper plate having a thicknessof 0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm and a length 70 mm in such manner that aperipheral portion having a width of 2 mm in the copper plate isremained intact, i.e., being flat. Then, on one of the corners of thesquare copper plate, a passage portion to be connected outside isformed. The passage has a width of 1 mm and the same height of therecessed portion (i.e., 1.0 mm). An angle formed by the passage and theend of the copper plate is 45 degrees. The above-mentioned plate wasformed by press-working. Furthermore, other copper plate having the samesize as the above-mentioned copper plate is prepared. On the othercopper plate, protruding portions having a height of 4 mm, and adiameter of 1 mmφ are formed in a square pattern with 3 mm pitch. Theabove-mentioned other plate was formed by press-working.

[0158] The punched copper plate with wire wound as a wick is received inthe recessed portion of the copper plate. Then, solder is applied to theouter peripheral portion having width of 2 mm of the above-mentionedcopper plate, and then, the other copper plate with the protrudingportions formed are placed face to face on the above-mentioned copperplate. Thus formed container is fix by a clip, and is introduced into afurnace to integrally form a one piece member.

[0159] Water is injected by a injector through the opening portion ofthe passage portion having a height of 1 mm and width of 1 mm, and thenthe container is heated so as for the water to be boiled. Thus, a platetype thin heat pipe of the present invention having a width of 25 mm, alength of 70 mm, and a thickness of 1.4 mm is formed. When a chipgenerating heat was cooled by thus formed plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention, the chip was effectively cooled.

Example 8

[0160] A punched copper plate A is prepared which has a thickness of 0.1mm, a width of 20 mm and a length of 65 mm, the punched holes of whichare formed in a square pattern with 2 mm pitch, each being a size of 1mmφ. Then, other punched copper plate B is prepared which has athickness of 0.1 mm, a width of 20 mm and a length of 65 mm, the punchedholes of which are formed in a square pattern with 2 mm pitch, eachbeing a size of 1 mmφ, and furthermore, cylindrical dimples having aheight of 0.2 mm and a diameter of 1 mmφ, with 10 mm pitch are formed.Thus prepared copper plates A and B are placed face to face with thedimples positioned therebetween, thus forming a unit of punched metalplates.

[0161] The copper wire having a diameter of 0.2 mmφ is wound on bothsides of the unit of the punched metal plates in such manner that it iswound 65 times between two long ends having length of 65 mm respectivelywith 1 mm pitch from the front side surface to the back side surface,and the front side surface again, thus repeated. Furthermore, the copperwire is wound on both sides of the unit of the punched metal plates withthe wire wound as described above, in such manner that it is wound 38times between two short ends having length of 20 mm respectively with0.5 mm pitch from the front side surface to the back side surface, andthe front side surface again, thus repeated. The Both ends of the copperwire are fixed to the far end punched holes, respectively.

[0162] In addition, a recessed portion having a depth of 1.2 mm isformed in the center portion of a square copper plate having a thicknessof 0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm and a length 70 mm in such manner that aperipheral portion having a width of 2 mm in the copper plate isremained intact, i.e., being flat. Then, on one of the corners of thesquare copper plate, a passage portion to be connected outside isformed. The passage has a width of 1 mm and the same height of therecessed portion (i.e., 1.2 mm). An angle formed by the passage and theend of the copper plate is 45 degrees. The above-mentioned plate wasformed by press-working. Furthermore, other plat copper plate having thesame size as the above-mentioned copper plate is prepared. Theabove-mentioned other plate was formed by press-working.

[0163] The unit of the punched copper plates with the copper wire woundas a wick is received in the recessed portion of the copper plate. Then,solder is applied to the outer peripheral portion having width of 2 mmof the above-mentioned copper plate, and then, the other flat copperplate are placed face to face on the above-mentioned copper plate. Thusformed container is fix by a clip, and is introduced into a furnace tointegrally form a one piece member.

[0164] Water is injected by a injector through the opening portion ofthe passage portion having a height of 1.2 mm and width of 1 mm, andthen the container is heated so as for the water to be boiled. Thus, aplate type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a width of 25mm, a length of 70 mm, and a thickness of 1.6 mm is formed. When a chipgenerating heat was cooled by thus formed plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention, the chip was effectively cooled.

Example 9

[0165] According to the present invention, a recessed portion having adepth of 0.6 mm is formed in the center portion of a square copper platehaving a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm and a length 50 mm insuch manner that a peripheral portion having a width of 2 mm in thecopper plate is remained intact, i.e., being flat. Then, on one of thecorners of the square copper plate, a passage portion to be connectedoutside is formed. The passage has a width of 1 mm and the same heightof the recessed portion (i.e., 0.6 mm). An angle formed by the passageand the end of the copper plate is 45 degrees. The above-mentioned platewas formed by press-working.

[0166] In addition, cylindrical protruding portions having a height of0.6 mm and a diameter of 3 mmφ are formed in a square pattern with 10 mmpitch on other copper plate having the same size as the copper platewith the recessed portion formed. The above-mentioned plate was formedby press-working.

[0167] Four sheets of meshes (#120) having a width of 20 mm and a lengthof 45 mm are prepared as a wick, and layered. The corresponding holes tothe above-mentioned cylindrical protruding portions, having a diameterof 3 mmφ are formed in a square pattern with 10 mm pitch on the meshes.Thus formed meshes are placed in the recessed portion in such mannerthat the cylindrical protruding portions are inserted in thecorresponding holes.

[0168] Solder is applied to the outer peripheral portion having width of2 mm of the above-mentioned copper plate and the tip ends of thecylindrical protruding portions, and then the other copper plate areplaced face to face on the above-mentioned copper plate. Thus formedcontainer is fix by a clip, and is introduced into a furnace tointegrally form a one piece member.

[0169] Water is injected by a injector through an opening portion of apassage portion having a height of 0.6 mm and width of 1 mm, and thenthe container is heated so as for the water to be boiled. Thus, a platetype thin heat pipe of the present invention having a width of 25 mm, alength of 50 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm is formed. When a chipgenerating heat was cooled by thus formed plate type thin heat pipe ofthe present invention, the chip was effectively cooled.

[0170] According to the present invention, it is possible to fabricatethe plate type heat pipe made of copper which is substantially amultiple through holes type of heat pipe with the use of water as aworking fluid.

[0171] Furthermore, in the present invention, mesh is fixed to the innersurface of the container, thus the passage for a vaporized working fluidcan be stably secured. In addition, it is possible to provide a wickstructure by the use of wire without using mesh. Furthermore, it ispossible to provide a large amount of the above-mentioned heat pipe andthe wick.

[0172] Furthermore, according to the present invention, in comparisonwith the conventional heat pipe in which mesh is simply received withinthe container, since the mesh surly and firmly contact with the innersurface of the container, the passage for vaporized working fluid issecured so as to remarkably increase the amount of the transferred heat.

[0173] In addition, it is possible to obtain the plate type thin heatpipe without deformation by the inner pressure thereof. In addition, itis possible to surely fix the wire to the inner surface of the containerin the plate type heat pipe. Furthermore, it is possible to provide aplate type thin heat pipe in which the working fluid can circulate in Xdirection and Y direction in the same manner as in the mesh withoutlosing an excellent property of the wire as a wick.

[0174] Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possibleto provide a plate type heat pipe which can secure the passage for avaporized working fluid, and includes an excellent wick structure onboth of the upper inner surface and the lower inner surface of thecontainer.

[0175] In addition, according to the present invention, it is possibleto provide the plate type heat pipe which has a portion to be simply andeasily sealed. In particular, it is possible to provide a portion to beeffectively sealed even in the plate type thin heat pipe having a totalthickness of up to 1.5 mm.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plate type thin heat pipe, comprising: acontainer having a hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure andhermetically sealed, formed by an upper plate member comprising a thincopper plate and a lower plate member comprising a thin copper plate; awick comprising a unit of punched metal plates formed by combining twopunched metal plates in which at least one of said punched metal plateshave a plurality of protruding portions, and said two punched metalplates are placed face to face with a distance corresponding to a heightof said protruding portion and a wire member wound around said unit ofpunched metal plates; and a working fluid received in said container. 2.The plate type thin heat pipe of claim 1 wherein another wire member isfurther arranged in such manner that said another wire member crossessaid wire member arranged on both of outer surfaces of said unit ofpunched metal plates of said wick.
 3. A plate type thin heat pipe,comprising: a plurality of spaced apart metal wire members placed inparallel and in substantially the same plane; a container having ahollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermeticallysealed comprising an upper plate member and a lower plate member placedface to face, each of which is made of thin copper plate, formed in sucha manner that either one or both of said upper plate member and saidlower plate member contacts said wire members, and said wire members aresandwiched by said upper and lower plate members; and water as a workingfluid received in said container.
 4. The plate type thin heat pipe ofclaim 3, additionally comprising a second plurality of spaced apartmetal wire members placed in parallel and in substantially the sameplane and placed so as to cross said plurality of first metal wiremembers.
 5. A plate type thin heat pipe, comprising: a group of wiremembers comprising a first substantially planar array of spaced apartmetal wire members, and a second substantially planar array of spacedapart metal wire members, wherein said second array is placed so as tocross said first array; a container having a hollow portion formed by anupper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a central portion ofwhich a recessed portion is formed to receive said wire members and in acorner portion of which a passage connecting said recessed portion tooutside is formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thin copperplate, outer peripheral portion of which are joined and said passage iscaulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner pressure thereof isreduced, said group of wire members being received in said hollowportion and each of inner surface of said upper plate member and saidlower plate member contacting at least some of said wire members; andwater as a working fluid received in said container.
 6. The plate typethin heat pipe of claim 5, wherein said upper plate member is integrallyformed as a single piece member by press-working.
 7. The plate type thinheat pipe of claim 5, further comprising: a plurality of protrudingportions being formed on an inner surface of said upper plate member orsaid lower plate member; said wick received in said container in such amanner that said wick is pressed by said plurality of protrudingportions to an opposing inner surface of said container.
 8. The platetype thin heat pipe of claim 5, wherein said wick comprises a unit ofpunched metal plates formed by combining two punched metal plates inwhich at least one of said punched metal plates have a plurality ofprotruding portions, and said two punched metal plates are placed faceto face with a distance corresponding to a height of said protrudingportion and a wire member wound around said unit of punched metalplates;
 9. The plate type thin heat pipe of claim 8, wherein anotherwire member is further arranged in such manner that said another wiremember crosses said wire member arranged on both of outer surfaces ofsaid unit of punched metal plates of said wick.
 10. The plate type thinheat pipe of claim 9, wherein said upper plate member is integrallyformed as a single piece member by press-working.
 11. A heat transferapparatus comprising: a first plate member; a second plate member; afirst plurality of wire members arranged in parallel and disposedbetween said first plate member and said second plate member; and asecond plurality of wire members arranged perpendicular to said firstplurality of wire members and disposed between said first plurality ofwire members and said second plate member.
 12. The apparatus of claim11, further comprising: a third plate member disposed a predetermineddistance from said second plate member; a fourth plate member; a thirdplurality of wire members arranged in parallel and disposed between saidthird plate member and said fourth plate member; and a fourth pluralityof wire members arranged perpendicular to said third plurality of wiremembers and disposed between said third plurality of wire members andsaid fourth plate member
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, furthercomprising a protruding portion disposed between said second and thirdplate members.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a fluiddisposed between said second and third plate members.
 15. A method ofmanufacturing an electronic cooling device comprising: combining twopunched metal plates with a space provided therebetween; winding a firstwire in a first direction on respective outer surfaces of each of thetwo punched metal plates; winding a second wire in a directionorthogonal to said first direction on respective outer surfaces of saidfirst wire; and placing two flat plate members on respective outersurfaces of the second wire.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein thewindings of the second wire on the respective outer surfaces of saidfirst wire closely contact each of the flat plate members.
 17. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising providing a vaporized fluid insaid space between the two punched metal plates.
 18. The method of claim15, further comprising providing a protruding portion in said spacebetween the two punched metal plates.